A Word For The Smokers Of The World!
By Darkwing
@Darkwing (21583)
May 28, 2007 10:46am CST
I want all anti-smoking campaigners to read this. You are bullying the smokers, terrorising them, discriminating against them and generally driving them to smoke more. Why????First let me tell you that I have smoked for over forty years, with a smoke-free period of six and a half years in between. I have evidence of elderly people, some into their centenary years, some merely into their nineties, who have smoked and lived a happy, healthy life! I, like other smokers will NOT be bullied into giving up... this ludicrousy only makes us more determined to claim our right to freedom of choice.
Having said that, I am in the process of getting together some herbs, with the intention of giving up smoking... NOT because I'm afraid of health problems, NOT because the government and health organisations but because it is becoming so heavily taxed that it weighs to heavy on my pocket. So, as is my belief, I want to put a word in FOR the smokers for a change!
Now, let me put to you that statitistics, although true in their capacity, cannot always show the actual figures of death from smoking related diseases, as they are based on only a small percentage of the population of the World, over a short period. In other words they are "random" statistics. We keep hearing that smoking kills so many millions a year, that it causes lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases, etc. etc. etc. but when are they ever compared to non-smokers who die from these diseases, other than to say they'd inhaled somebody else's smoke, just for the sake of some reasoning? It's laughable that you are all brainwashed by "statistics" and government say-so, as well as health organisations putting their oar in and giving statistics for one small corner of the world.
Let me put something else to you... where are the statistics for people dying from AIDS, stomach and liver cancer, brain tumours, meningitis, asthma and other respiratory diseases which are caused by emissions other than smoking, like car fumes, and airoplane emissions or fuel dumping? Where are the statistics for BSE, one of the biggest killers of man? No... you can't tell me, because the government in all its splendour and it's campaign for voters, is discriminating against the smokers. It's the current World trend and they have to follow! Ok, it might get them more votes initially, until people realise what's going on and come to their senses.
Are they banning smoking in the House of Commons... a public place, just like any pub or club... NO, THEY ARE NOT!!! So where does their theory hold up that smoking kills? Why aren't they leading their campaign in support of the health organisations and fear of death by smoking? Go figure!
Ok... I realise this might get withdrawn, but I'm up for opinions from Smokers and Non-Smokers alike. We want PROOF!!! It's not forthcoming. We want FREEDOM OF CHOICE, just like everybody who lights barbecues and bonfires and pollute the air. It's time we were given the right to stand up and argue our case! So... what's your opinion on this?
11 people like this
10 responses
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
28 May 07
Thank you for posting this discussion (statement) as I also am a smoker. Have been for many years. Someday I might quit but it will be when I choose to quit. It is important that we have freedom of choice. Freedom to choose if to smoke or when to stop. Again, thank you for pointing out that the stats for other things are not so clearly visible but should be.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
28 May 07
You're welcome, Royal. I just saw two anti-smoking discussions today... and they're two of many I've seen in here, asking why we want to kill ourselves. Oh, do me a favour... there are drink-drivers, people driving whilst talking on the mobile phone, etc, etc, who are likely to kill way more than themselves and probably more than any smoker, so they need to give us a break and smarten up their own acts. I'm certainly tired of being labelled "killer" when people choose to be in the same place as me when I'm smoking, and I certainly have the choice to do whatever I wish with my life. I'm just tired of all the holier than thou people who think they know best. Sorry, but stats mean nothing to me when I see really elderly people who have been smoking 80-90 years and are fit as fiddles. It's hogwash!
2 people like this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
29 May 07
Me too Gabs, and I came to the end of my tether when I saw two more anti-smoking discussions in quick succession. Ok... they got us banned from everything... move on and give us a break! I've kept reasonably quiet up until now, but I thought it was time somebody spoke out for the smokers.
See you at Hyde Park Corner next Sunday, soap box in hand! ha ha ha ha
1 person likes this
@anonymili (3138)
•
28 May 07
Hear hear hun! I have been smoking for 23 years now and refuse to be bullied into giving up by the anti-smoking brigade. I will only give up when I'm ready to. My husband gave up 4.5 years ago because he found it too expensive - he was smoking 30 a day for over 20 years. I smoked much more before but these days I'm only smoking up to 5 cigs a day but much more if I'm out socially with friends. Come 1st July we won't be able to smoke in pubs and clubs and restaurants in the UK. Big whoop, I'll just cut down on going to those places - their loss of business not mine. I know they have no choice as the government has enforced this law on them. I wish you luck with giving it up, I will give up one of these days but only because I am sick of paying the taxes they love juicing from us! There - my rant over too now! xx
1 person likes this
@whimsystoryteller (1743)
• United States
29 May 07
Well, you and I are never going to agree on this subject but thanks to your posting, I've come up with an idea for a design for t-shirts for non-smokers to wear and I'm going to begin selling it. Hopefully, it will encourage others to support not smoking. Thanks for the help.
@kayrod2 (1304)
• Australia
29 May 07
Well said, darkwing. What a great topic. I get so sick of hearing all the anti smoking hype. And guess what - i am not a smoker. I gave up smoking many years ago, simply because i didnt want to smoke anymore. My hubby smokes, and thats fine. I dont have smoking in the house, due to the kids. But hubby is quite fine with that, and so are any visitors. I think people have the right to smoke if they choose. Over here, they are putting all these warnings on smoke packs and horrible pictures to try to turn people off. The smokers think they are a big joke, wondering what will be on the next pack. I know many older people who have smoked for most of there lives. My mum still smokes and she is in her 70's. I often wonder about the so called statistics they always release, and wonder where they are from. There are a lot of other pollution in the air, as you mentioned, what about the harm that it causes.
Best wishes to you, darkwing.
@kayrod2 (1304)
• Australia
30 May 07
No worries darkwing. I believe that smokers should be able to exercise their freedom of choice, it is their own choice to smoke. Just like if you choose to drink, it is your choice. At the moment, in pubs and clubs, there is only a small section that you can use to have a smoke, and later on this year they are banning it totally. I think this is ridiculous. Have you got it similar in your pubs?
Best wishes to you
@tim_un (354)
• Malaysia
29 May 07
I see your point there althought im not a smoker. But the basic question here is 2nd hand smoker willing to smoke your poluted air? At least i know those baebecues willing to smoke the poluted air in "barbeque area". So please kind to those non-smokers.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
29 May 07
Tim... you are one of the more caring non-smokers, and I'm grateful for that, at least.
However, passive (or 2nd hand) smokers, have the choice of whether they breathe the air in which we smoke. They have the choice to stay away from those areas and frequent their now many, smoke-free zones. We don't have a choice any more. The banning of smoking in pubs leaves us no public amenity to smoke in. We can't even socialise with the other people in the village any more! You call that fair?
@ellie26 (4139)
• Malaysia
29 May 07
Hi darkwing, I see your points there. I am a non-smoker but my mother who is 73 this has been smoking for almost all her life and thank God, she is alright. I think it is only fair if they can put a non-smoking and smoking areas just like what some hotels do or restaurants. I also think that if they are all out about banning smoking in public, they should also make a ban on barbequing and open burnings. These too contribute to health hazards. So, in that way air pollution will be minimized.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
29 May 07
Hi Ellie! Thank you for mentioning your mother's age as a smoker. I think you'll find a lot of elderly smokers mentioned in this discussion, which does rather support my point to some extent.
Yes, public areas with both smoking and non-smoking areas would be great, but guess what? Some non-smokers have noses like elephants and can smell the smoke from another room through two closed doors! That's something I was told recently! They make me laugh, when they run out of argument and come up with an excuse like that. :-)
I think, from what I've been hearing, that bonfires are going to be banned and barbecues are going to be taxed, so that's one saving grace for us, I guess. The non-smokers will get taxed on something!
Thank you for your input... Brightest Blessings, my friend.
@anlelan (90)
• China
29 May 07
I agree with you very much .Though I am not smoking ,but many families are smoking .My husbend ,my father-in-law and so on. I know smoking is bad for body and others. So I have adivse them many times to far from smoke. But it is pity that they don't believe me. Now i will let my husbend and others read this topic. It is a good topic.
@reshadodo1905 (20)
• Egypt
29 May 07
most people smoking and not be able to quit smoking also they know the smoking is very bad thing for health i hope all the people quit smoking
@FallenAngell (40)
• United States
29 May 07
You go Darkwing! We have a smoking band here in Lincoln nebraska and I hate it! Yes I agree that the taxes are too high when it costs about 4 cents to make a pack! Not fair there, its like they are forcing us to quit! That would be the only reason I would quit, its going to be hard becuase what else is going to calm my nerves in a society like this! THANKS!!!
